Poll suggests tolling on all bridges slightly preferred

DELTA (NEWS 1130) – If tolls are inevitable, all bridges in our region should have them, according to 47 per cent of people who participated in a new poll in our region.

That figure beat out the 38 per cent against that idea and the 15 per cent who didn’t take a position in this poll conducted by the Mustel Group for BC Business magazine.

“There’s a slight preference for tolling all bridges,” says Evi Mustel with Mustel Group.

Delta Mayor Lois Jackson is an advocate of tolling all bridges in the region at a lower rate than we see on the likes of the Port Mann, as it would mean we all share the financial burden and take the shortest route rather than the free and often congested one.

“People are simply diverting and simply going to the bridge without tolls, and I think that will continue to happen,” says Jackson. “If everybody paid a little bit, then I think it would be more palatable to and understandable also for everyone in the region.”

There was a big regional divide — those living in municipalities south and east of Vancouver are more likely to want tolls on all crossings.

“We could see City of Vancouver and North Shore residents are more in favour of tolling only new bridges,” says Mustel.

“Those populations tend to be heavier users of bridges that aren’t currently being tolled such as the Lions Gate and the Iron Workers Memorial. But in all other regions, once you got out of the City of Vancouver and North Shore, you can see there’s a stronger preference for tolling all bridges.”

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today